I Became the Only Non-mage in the Academy

Chapter 12: Kim Ara (3)

TL/Editor: looloo

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[It's expected,] the Heavenly Demon answered casually.

Body Against Heaven, a physique that challenges the natural order, rejects all mana-related abilities.

[Blocking an opponent's magic is not always beneficial. While it's good for deflecting curses, it doesn't always bring positive effects. You won't even be able to receive magic that enhances the abilities of allies or provides healing.]

'...I had a feeling this might happen.'

Cooking, alchemy, blacksmithing are often the chosen sub-jobs. I chose alchemy first for a reason. Because the Body Against Heaven heals slowly and can't learn healing magic, I had to find an alternative.

"What? The curse just vanished?"

"How strong is his magic resistance? Could he be a half-giant or something?" the students whispered.

"He, hehe. This year's top student is truly exceptional," Song Rahee stumbled over her words as she looked at me, her eyes gleaming.

"The next spell won't be so simple. It's a spell I created to break magic resistance," she announced, casting her spell.

"That's indeed a little dangerous. Without the Black Scales of the Black Divine Martial Art, any standard defensive technique might crumble under that spell. Focusing a talent on magic resistance is rather unique," I mused.

"You're free to refuse my challenge, Lee Seoha," she continued, "But if my spell fails to penetrate your barrier, you'll earn enough points to set you at ease for a while."

"I'll do it," I responded, looking at Song Rahee. She was starting to seem less like a slightly grumpy professor who might turn into a Mine, and more like a point dispensing machine.

Song Rahee launched a sphere at me and, as expected, it vanished upon touching my body.

"What... how can this be... My magic..." Song Rahee stared at me, her expression empty.

No way. The points are mine.

---

Raei Translations

---

Weeks of training and exams whizzed by, and suddenly, the weekend arrived. The Korea Hero Academy, curiously, had commitments that took up part of our weekends.

Specifically, "I understand that you all want to rest, but a true hero requires a healthy physique and hobbies," the principal would say. As a result, everyone ended up joining a club.

All was fine, but why did it have to be on the weekends?

"Let's join the travel club. It feels more like a trip than any other club," one student suggested.

"How about the gaming club?"

"Or maybe the club that visits the renowned baseball team, the Lotte Giants?"

"What's a Lotte? A renowned baseball team?"

There were many clubs to choose from. Students were required to join at least one. If they were willing to give up their Sundays, they could join up to two.

Choosing a club was a straightforward decision for me.

I decided to join the Occult Research Club.

Ersil planned to join this club as well, bringing a variety of cursed artifacts for research.

'Should I try to convince Seo-hyun to join too?'

After some thought, I decided it would be best to focus on building a relationship with Ersil.

I wrote 'Occult Research Club' and handed it in to Instructor Seo Woojoo.

"Hmm? This club might be shut down soon due to a lack of members, and there's no teacher or professor overseeing it. Are you sure about this?" he asked.

"Yes."

Finding a teacher or professor should be easy.

As the top student, I expected many to attempt showcasing their capabilities to me.

"I trust you'll manage. If not, just let me know."

Instructor Seo Woojoo stamped my paper. I took it and went back to my seat.

"Oh? You're interested in the Occult Research Club?" Ersil asked.

"Occult Research Club? Seo-ha, that's what you're into?" Kim Seohyun seemed surprised.

"Hmm, I was thinking of joining the Mint Chocolate Debate Club, but maybe I'll choose the Occult Research Club?"

"Oh, you have good taste?"

A debate about mint chocolate between the British and Korean geniuses?

That sounds terrible.

I sighed and shook my head.

"Do you have to follow me?" I asked.

"Isn't that what friends do?"

"There's no need to follow. We can hang out on Sunday anyway, right? It's better to do what we each like on Saturdays."

"That's true. Then I'll join the Mint Chocolate Debate Club."

Humming a tune, Kim Seohyun quietly wrote 'Mint Chocolate Debate Club'.

---

Raei Translations

---

"Have you arrived?"

"...Yes."

Kim Ara nodded, her voice barely audible.

"But are you sure you can venture this deep?"

"Yes, it's fine."

Permission was already granted. When Instructor Seo Woojoo mentioned needing a large area for training, he readily suggested this place.

"But why train all the way out here?"

"Well, the training method I'm going to use is quite different from what you're used to."

While walking slowly, I chatted with Kim Ara.

The Suzerain had trained Kim Ara.

However, he hadn't been able to adequately teach her combat strategies.

"When the Suzerain was teaching you swordplay, did you notice anything odd?"

"...Hmm. I think there was something. The results my father predicted and my actual achievements were different."

It was straightforward.

What the Suzerain couldn't pass on, Kim Ara received.

"My strength is greater than what my father predicted..."

I looked at Kim Ara.

Her body was slender, her hair a long purple. She kept her bangs long to cover half of her eyes, but her beauty was still undeniable.

I placed my hand in my pocket and started to speak slowly.

"I mentioned this before. Your strength is tied to your lineage."

"Lineage?"

"Yes, lineage."

The Suzerain and Kim Ara are the descendants of a legendary race that no longer exists.

The Giant Tribe.

In the ancient past, they were a force to be reckoned with, even dreaded by the Dragon Tribe.

Their lineage gradually diluted over time, and by the Suzerain's generation, it was on the verge of extinction. However, the potent blood of the Giants was robustly passed on to Kim Ara.

She will continue to grow, becoming so powerful that even the Suzerain won't be able to control her strength.

"Have you ever tried to strike something with all your might? That sensation of every ounce of your energy being expended in one blow?"

"No, the Suzerain always warned me not to hit anything with my full strength."

"Didn't that seem odd to you?"

"......"

Kim Ara stopped and looked at me.

"Didn't you feel something peculiar? Like you could exert more power. That feeling that your body is capable of doing more. No, not a feeling, but a revelation."

"I did."

The potency of the bloodline that the Suzerain failed to inherit,

Only Kim Ara managed to receive it.

The Suzerain had inherited precisely half of the Giant Tribe's heritage, their strength alone.

Kim Ara was different.

Unlike the Suzerain, Kim Ara inherited the life-force that the Giants possessed.

"So try it now. Tap into that latent strength and strike."

This is, in fact, something that Kim Ara would come to realize on her own. In the future, during her battles with the Mines who covet her Giant blood, she would become aware of the power in her blood.

"We're here."

Once we arrived at the training ground, I tapped my foot on the ground and spoke.

"Can you do it?"

"Yes."

Kim Ara nodded. She picked up the Giant's Sword, an enormous weapon that always seemed foreign no matter how many times I saw it.

A literal 'Giant's' Sword. Kim Ara lifted it as easily as one would pick up a chopstick.

Ooong!

The sword vibrated. Purple mana swirled around Kim Ara.

I leaned against a tree and watched.

Squeak.

The mana shrieked. Yet Kim Ara, her eyes calm, firmly held the Giant's Sword and raised it above her head.

[Wait....]

The Heavenly Demon's expression shifted. Her initially curious eyes filled with horror.

Kim Ara swung the sword.

From top to bottom.

There was no technique in her swing.

Softness could overcome strength, but immense power could crush everything.

Zzeooeoeong-----!!!

As the sword descended, space screamed. Anything in the path of the sword was pulverized by sheer force.

The ground at the point of impact was demolished as though bombed, creating a deep crater.

In the aftermath,

Kim Ara was grinning.

Blood seeped from her arm. As if her veins had ruptured, crimson spewed from multiple points on her arm.

Yet the original power of the giant rapidly healed her arm. The blood flow stopped, her arm regenerating as if time itself was reversing.

Just a little bit,

But with that, Kim Ara's body became more 'robust'.

[...She's a madwoman.]

The Heavenly Demon muttered in a hushed tone.

I grinned and posed a question to Kim Ara.

"How does it feel?"

"...You knew about this?"

"Roughly. I have keen eyes."

I gestured towards my eye and chuckled. Kim Ara also giggled, albeit it was a somewhat eerie laugh.

"Is your level of Seo Gayeon also like this?"

"Ga-yeon? She's quite something. So, how do you feel now?"

"It's peculiar. I've never felt like this in all these years."

Because Kim Ara murmured as if discarding - I didn't catch what she said afterward.

"This is the first time someone has piqued my interest."

---

Raei Translations

---

The Alchemy Guild.

Despite the name suggesting a group of collaborating alchemists, these individuals typically operate in isolation.

Most alchemists choose to dedicate their time to their research rather than fostering social skills.

Nevertheless, recently, this Alchemy Guild has been in an uproar.

The reason for the unrest was straightforward. It was due to a formula shared by a certain member who joined the guild not long ago.

"To think such a profound mixture existed, it's truly astounding

"It defies logic. The line between poison and medicine is thin. But to concoct a potion using only poisons..."

"What about its efficacy? The ingredients might be readily available, but we need matching efficiency.

"Such a naive question. Are you simply viewing this potion in terms of profit? That's a disgrace to this formula!"

Individuals like 'Master', who developed an AI and vanished for a decade claiming social gatherings were a nuisance, 'Al Magus', who sought to produce the Philosopher's Stone, and even 'Zermong', a potion maker who owned 35% of the shares in the global potion market.

People capable of turning the Alchemy Guild upside down single-handedly had gathered and were engaged in a discussion.

"It's truly baffling. So, Master. Do you know who this person is?

"...I have no clue."

"What? You mean to tell me you dont know despite being the one who invented the AI?!

"I genuinely don't! When I crafted the AI, my disciples were pestering me, so I made it with the help of 'Electronic Witch'. I have little influence.

"This is lunacy.

The Electronic Witch.

A witch dwelling within electronics. Having renounced her physical form to exist within electronics, it was exceedingly challenging to persuade her to assist.

"...We have no other choice but to wait for him to surface again.

"What do you mean we have no choice?! By the time that happens, rumors would have swept through the industry. Mines may appear ranting about assassinating the alchemist who shared this recipe!"

Though this would only happen in the worst-case scenario, they had already experienced it. From the Mines' or villains' perspective, they wouldn't want heroes to grow stronger.

"By the way, what's the alchemists name?

"Don't you know that either?

"He goes by Veritas.

".

The one who asked the question fell silent. Only then did they realize they hadn't discussed the alchemist's name.

Veritas. Truth.

A name that represented the hidden aspiration of all alchemists.

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